By Zasha Whiteway-Wilkinson, Gloucestershire Live.
This is a story about two best friends in Cheltenham, who over a pint got together and built the nation’s favourite quiz night, with their joint love trivia and generally having a laugh. Gareth Rees-Jones, 31, and Nick Martindale, 24, are better known as 'DJ Nick and Quizmaster Gaz' of quiz nights up and down the U.K.
The pair have likened themselves to the Gloucestershire version of Ant and Dec. These two men however are not just playing the part of the charismatic presenters. They sat down with Gloucestershire Live to explain why their friendship and natural banter are fast becoming the faces of local entertainment.
DJ Nick: "It all started in 2016, when The Bierkeller Cheltenham opened. I always knew we were going to have a quiz but I didn't know how to go about it or how big it would become.
"The first week we did it we just had one of the bar staff read out the questions and there was maybe 10-15 people that came.
"But in the second week I was sat having a pint with Gaz, who I'd worked with before and we just really got on. And I didn't have anyone to read out the questions, and Gaz is a car salesman for Cotswold BMW so I knew that he'd have the voice and the charasmatic personality, so I just asked him if he wanted to do it for us."
When Gloucestershire Live sat down with Nick and Gaz, physically they could not be more different. Nick is confident, tan and clearly loves his lifestyle rubbing shoulders with the rich and famous, whereas Gaz is gentle giant type, a little quieter but you would say that that's because his words are carefully considered and well thought through.
However you would not go as far as to say they're chalk and cheese- because something that links these two best friends is their cheeky, almost secret smiles, like they see the humour and the light in every situation.
Not a trait uncommon to the the famed 'bromance' presenters of the celeb world.Unsure of standing up there completely by himself, Gaz posed the idea that to save a little bit of awkwardness of just talking to the room, Nick should get behind the booth and play out some tunes to keep the crowd warmed up and in the party/fun mood.
This started off as a simple use of Nick's Spotify playlist but fairly quickly descended into a 'moderately successful' DJ career, which Nick balances alongside his full time job as Area Sales Manager for Moo Moos, Fever and Bierkeller.
Gaz said: "I said yes to reading out the questions, as long as Nick got behind the booth to play some tunes.
"I didn't want it to be just me talking, having the music going on gives much needed atmosphere.
Talking about the banter and ease of friendship between the two, Gaz continued:
"We just find it so easy to bounce off each other. There is never any awkward moments and hosting together means that banter doesn't stop flowing."
Gaz moved to Gloucester when he was three where he attended Insworth Infants, Churdown Juniors and Seniors before taking on sales at Cotswold BMW, just outside of Cheltenham.
Nick speaks fondly of Gaz saying:
"Gaz and I are best mates. We met a few years ago when I took a break from the club scene and went into car sales. He's so funny, we have such great banter he just gets me.
"I would say we have a relationship similar to that of Ant and Dec, Gloucestershire's Ant and Dec!
"Doing this quiz has really brought him out of his shell and has given him the chance to show everybody the legend that I know he is."
The pair are funny and clearly get on so well, that when Gloucestershire Live attended the quiz, which has gone from a measly 15 people to being booked out every single week, there was never a dull moment.
For the pair to be able to explore their creativity and just have a laugh together, and successfully call it work, that's a dream not many are so lucky to achieve.
